The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-10-06
THE NEW COMMANDER.

John P Rea was born Oct 13. 1910. in Lower
Oxford township. Chester county, Pa. His
father owned a wooden factory. and he passed
his time there and attending school until Sep
where he taught school When the war broke
of Contrary B B, Eleventh Ohio infantry. He
served with this regiment four months and was
then commissioned second lieutenant OF
first Lieutenant March IL. 1862 and in April of
the following year to the rank OF captain. and
was breveted major. He served in the regiment
three We rs and four Months, and was absent
on sick leave. After returning from the war he
entered tue Wesleyan college, at Delaware. Ohio.
IN and ane 1887 Il bur ins hs Saon
1866. he entered The office, of Hon.
O. j. Dickey of Lancaster. Pa. as law student.
apd was ADMITTED 10 me par the[e IN nce,
and in March, 1869, was appointed one of three
notaries public in Lancaster by Gov. Geary, but
April II, 1869 was appointed assessor OF inter-
district of Pennsylvania, which office he held
until it was abolished by law in 1S73. In 1869
he was married to Miss Emma Gould OF Ohio.
They have no children. He continued practicin
law in Lancaster until December. 1879, when he
removed to Minneapolis. His cousin. John A.
Rea, now OF Bismarck, was at that time actively
engaged in newspaper work In Minneapolis. and
in conjunction with A. g. Wilcox. James l. Hen
dryx and Charles F. Hendrix, Judge Rea and
John A. Rea purchased the Tribune. and the sub
ject of this sketch became the editor chief
In May, 1876, controlling interest in theTrib-
une. then morning paper was purct ased by
the PIONEER PRESS and converted into an even
ing paper. judge Rea, a minority stakeholder
continued as editor until Nav 1877, when he
RESUMED THE PRACTICE OF LAW
and became member OF the firm of Rea, Hooker
& Wooley. This firm was subsequently changed
and became Rea, Woollev & Kltchell, and subse-
Quently Rea, Kitchell & Shaw. In November
1877. he was elected judge Of probate, and
served for four years with conspicuous ability.
He continued his relationship, however with the
law firm with which he was connected. This
firm had, probably, the largest practice of any
in the city. In April 1886, Judge Koon re-
signed his seat the bench Of the district court
OF this district. and in response to the very gen.
eral wish of the Hennepin county bar Gov. Hub
bard appointed Judge Rea. He now adorns that
position of honor and responsibility. Judge Rea
has always been prominent in the Grand Army
He is member and past commander OF George
n Morgan post. and his voice is always heard
on any occasion where the interests of the old
soldier are involved. He is forcible public
speaker. infusing pathos and power into his
utterances. He is thorough going Republican,
and has always taken an active interest in poll
tics, but his is not offensive partisanship and
the necessity of excluding political matters
from the realm of the g. A. R is with him car
diual principle. He has already held the posi-
tion Of senior vice commander Of the national
organization. Personally he is one Of the most
genial of men, and he is the last man in the
world to injure another's feelings in any way.
The result ia, he has host of friends to rejoice
over his latest and greatest honor and no ene-
mics to lament the event.